James Murphy

Length of course: One year

I chose to study at the University of Northampton as it was the only university that offered a course that suited me. The one-year top-up degree is incredible – I haven’t heard of an opportunity like it at any other universities. To be able to use my previous experience in the field in lieu of more years at university is fantastic – I’m able to do the course entirely online and come out with a degree in just one year.

Currently, I’m a Montessori Children’s House guide, but to progress within Montessori to become a teacher trainer, I need a degree. It’s something I’m considering as a career goal, but not yet set on, as it takes a long time to qualify. I’ve also considered opening my own Montessori school, and for that I don’t need any specific qualification, but would like to feel more prepared for it.

My studies will help my career when I graduate as it’s broadened my understanding of the issues and challenges faced by families, children and leaders within the field of education and childcare. Even if I don’t progress professionally and stay at the level of Children’s House Guide for some time, the course has given me the opportunity to study something I’m passionate about in my dissertation – children’s eating behaviours. It’s also given me a deeper appreciation of the complexities involved, which will not only help me, but also the children in my care in the future, as children’s relationships with food seems to be an issue that keeps coming up (at least one child every academic year). Because of my studies, I now feel better equipped to support parents on issues around food.

The Working with Families module of the course was the most interesting for me personally, as it really helped me to appreciate the challenges faced by some families and communities. Growing up in a comfortably middle-class family, surrounded by other middle-class families, I had a narrow and unrealistic view of how support systems worked, as well as other systems like access to education, jobs, and childcare. Through the assignments and discussions within that module, I grew to appreciate how wrong I was and how inadequate government systems are when it comes to supporting families and ensuring equitable access to basic services.

The advice I’d give to undergraduates interested in this career path would be that experience is everything – the more things you try, the better idea you’ll have of exactly which direction you want to go in.

My UON experience has been eye-opening, flexible, convenient, supportive, and valuable.